Much different than an Alcoholic. Alcoholists do not have a dependency on alcohol. They merely enjoy drinking large amounts of alcohol to reach that "happy place", which usually means blacking out and trying to figure out what the hell happened last night.

Dude I'm not alcoholic. I'm an alcoholist.

All alcoholists have a a flask full of Jägermeister and red bull to have an instant Jäger bomb.

Discrimination against alcoholics. Legislation and practices that unfairly remove the rights of alcoholics.

Tax on alcohol, dry counties, etc. Grocery store rewards programs that don't reward alcohol purchases. Hey man, you aren't gonna sell me that beer just because it's sunday but i can still buy a soda, that's makes you an Alcoholist!

An expert at alcohol. Like a specialist~ a professional. Someone who is a specialist at alcohol. Unlike the term "alcoholic", which has a negative connotation, an "alcoholist" is someone who is a specialist at alcohol. They are unlikely to be a drunk, but more akin to a connoisseur of alcohol. This is a compliment, and a term of respect and camaraderie.

That person is a pianist.
That person is a specialist.
That person is a biologist.
That person is an economist.
**That person is an alcoholist.**